XSite is a powerful three-dimensional hydraulic fracturing numerical simulation program based on the Synthetic Rock Mass (SRM) and Lattice methods. XSite is capable of modeling multiple wellbores with multiple stages and clusters, including open-hole completions and perforation tunnels. XSite resolves general hydraulic fracture interaction, including propagation in naturally fractured reservoirs with deterministically or stochastically generated discrete fracture networks (DFNs). The models conduct fully coupled hydro-mechanical simulations. Fluid flow is simulated as fracture flow within the joint networks and as matrix flow within the intact rock. Proppant transport and placement logic is included. Proppant affects fracture closure and fracture conductivity. General pumping schedules can be simulated with switching injected Newtonian or power-law fluids. The borehole flow is coupled with the rest of the model to determine distribution of fluid between multiple clusters. Synthetic microseismicity can be tracked and recorded.
Special-purpose Software
- The user interface is easy to use, with no commands or scripting needed
- Extendable library of rock and fluid types; no numerical calibration necessary
- Easy definition of geology (layers and structures), including importing geological geometries from DXF files
- Easy definition of multiple wellbores, stages, and clusters, including importing geometry from DXF files
- Easy definition of injection rates and schedules
- Easy post-processing with many plot types
- Model state can be saved at any stage and restarted later
- Models can be run interactively and in batch mode
- Export results in many formats, including formats that can be read by reservoir simulators
Applications Include
- Reservoir-scale, multi-well, multi-stage field stimulation by multiple fracture propagation with application to both petroleum and Engineered Geothermal System (EGS) operations
- Near-wellbore models to simulate fracture initiation
- Proppant transport and placement
- Prediction of microseismicity
- Rock mass preconditioning for mining operations
Proven
- Verified by comparison with analytical and semi-analytical solutions of different problems that involve important aspects of hydro-mechanical coupling during hydraulic fracture propagation
- Used by Itasca for consulting projects
- Used by industry, including BP America and Aramco Research Center
- Used by universities, including University of North Dakota, University of Pittsburgh, University of Utah, Tongji University, and Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne
